Extension leaf desk



May 8, 1934. B. e. RAND EXTENSION LEAF DESK Filed Aug. 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1934. 3 RAND 1,958,368

EXTENS ION LEAF DESK Filed Aug. 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1934. B G. RAND EXTENSION LEAF DESK Filed Aug. 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 and l\ (\I m w gmntoz ar/11726150220,

y 1934- B. G. RAND 1,958,368

EXTENSION LEAF DESK Filed Aug. 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Du; hula kw glwuenkov 5307205 dbtouwq Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED TATE EXTENSION LEAF DESK Application August 26, 1931, Serial No. 559,537

9 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture such as desks, tables or the like and it has particular relation to an article of furniture having a slidable extension leaf therein.

In utilizing desks, tables or the like it is often desirable to employ more space than that provided by a particular desk. Various kinds of folding tops and slidable extensions have been provided which have been more or less satisfactory but, as a rule, they have the disadvantage of being disposed at a level different from that of the desk proper. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a desk extension which may be rawn outwardly from the desk and then elevated to a position in such manner that substantially the entire top surface including the extension is in a common plane. Both the elevating and the extending of the leaves is accomplished simply by drawing it outwardly from the desk.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, of which Fig. 1 is a perspective of an extension desk embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the underside of the extension leaf in perspective;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective of portions of the elements employed in extending and elevating the extension leaf;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section of a desk with an extension partially Withdrawn therefrom; i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section of a desk with an extension fully withdrawn and raised to a level of the top of the desk;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-section of a desk with the extension in its final operative position;

Fig. '7 is a cross-section of a desk with the extension sheathed therein taken approximately on the line '77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section on a larger scale, of a desk, with the extension sheathed therein;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line X-X of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken on the line XIK[ of Fig. 8, of a central portion of a desk with parts removed for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line XIIXII of Fig. 5.

In practicing the invention an extension desk top 20 is slidably mounted in an article of furniture 22, such as a desk, table or the like, and is controlled in its sliding movement by means of guides 23 mounted upon the desk and below the top thereof. Each of the guides 23 comprises to relatively slidable channels 25 and 26, one of which fits slidably into the channel of the other and both of which are disposed within an elongated housing 27 that is rigidly secured to a shelf or support 28 spaced from the top 20 of the desk. A handle 30 extending transversely of the guides 23 is provided with angular extensions 31 that are rigidly secured to the lower faces of the channels 25. Oif-set portions 32 of the handle 30 provide a space adjacent each channel 25 for the purpose of permitting the angular extension to slide between re-entrant flanges 33 of the channels 26.

Cam blocks 34 and 35 having inclined faces 36 are rigidly secured opposite adjacent ends of each channel 25 and normally extend through slots 37 and 38, respectively, in the upper wall or web of the channel 26. These slots adjacent their forward ends have relatively narrow portions 39 and 40 which are only slightly wider than the thickness of the blocks 34 and 35. Also, each channel 25 is provided in its rear portion with a relatively long slot 42 that serves as a guide for a lug 43 rigidly secured in the channel housing 27. A pair of cooperating fingers A and a5 turned inwardly from the side walls of the rear portions of the channels 25 and 26 respectively, limit relative sliding movement of the channels.

It will be observed that the housing 27 which is substantially rectangular in cross-section, has its upper wall slotted from one end to the other, as indicated at 47, to form relatively narrow reentrant flanges 48. A pair of cam blocks l9 and 50 (Fig. 2) having guiding side walls or flanges 52 and cam' faces 53 sloped or inclined in opposite directions from the inclination of the cam faces 36 are rigidly secured to the lower surface of the extension top 20 in registering relation with respect to the cams 34 and 35.

' The forward end of each channel 26 is provided with a pin 54 which fits into a vertical slot 56 of a bracket 57 that is rigidly secured to the lower surface of the extension desk top 20. Suitable spacing ribs 58' and 59 secured to the extension top 20 and the support 28 respectively insure proper strength and support for the intermediate portion of the extension top. Likewise, a similar rib 60 is secured to the top of the desk adjacent the extension top and in alignment with the rib 58 and 59. Additional ribs 61 similar to the rib are secured in alignment with the guide 23 adjacent opposite sides of the extension top.

In the position of the elements shown by Fig. 7 the extension top 20 is sheathed within the desk 22 and the inclined cam faces 36 and 53 are disposed against each other. By drawing the handle 30 outwardly the channels 25 and 26 slide within the housing 2'7 until the stationary lugs 43 contact the end of the slot 42 in the position shown by Fig. 4. Then, by drawing the desk extension outwardly by means of a depending flange 62, the cam faces 53 ride up the incline of the cam faces 36 until the desk top is in the position shown by Fig. 5. In this latter movement the bracket 57 and pin 54 cooperate to draw the channel 26 outwardly until the lug 45 strikes the lug 44 and guide the extension top in its vertical movement. The end portions of the cam thus rest upon each other to support the extension top 20 at a height'equal to that of the top of the desk 22. Then the movable structure is forced rearwardly as a unit by pressing against the extension top front 62, until the rear edge of the extension top 20 abuts in flush relation against the front edge of the desk top.

While the extension top 20 may be operated as indicated above, the preferred and most convenient operation to secure the movement of top 20 to the extended position of Fig. 6 from the housed position of Fig. 7, is to manually grasp flange 62 and pull the top 20 outwardly until the stops 43, 44 and 45 prevent further movement. At this point in operation extension top 20 will assume the position shown in Fig. 5. This operation is obtained by reason of channels 25 being supported by flanges 33 of channels 26. As channels 26 form the slidable supporting means for top 20 in its extended position and top 20 is connected to channels 26 by brackets 57 it will be clear that channels 25 can have no movement on channels 26 until they are positively operated. Therefore, channels 25 move with channels 26 in movement from the position of Fig. '7 to the position of Fig. 4 pulling top 20 outwardly through manually pulling on flange 62. Then, through continued pulling on flange 62, stops 43 engage the end of slots 42 in channels 25 and arrest the movement of channels 25 while channels 26 and top 20 continue their outward movement. This causes the cam faces 36 and 53 to ride over each other for elevating top 20 to the position of Fig. 5, when stop 45 engages stop 44 and movement of channels 26 and top 20 are arrested. Top 20 is then pushed rearwarclly until its rear edge engages the forward edge of desk 22 as shown in Fig. 6. As channels 26 move rearwardly with top 20 by means of the bracket connection 57, channels 25 supported by channels 26 will also move with channels 26 but not relative thereto and top 20 will remain in elevated position in this rearward movement.

Since the channel 25 fits snugly during its sliding movement within the channel 26 and the latter channel fits similarly into the housing 27, the extension top is prevented from tilting appreciably I and insures a practically level continuous surface therefrom across the top of the desk.

The extension top 20 is sheathed Within the desk by drawing the slide carrying cams 34 forward by means of handle 30 thereby permitting top 20 to take the position as shown in Fig. 4. Then the entire movable assembly can be forced rearwardly to the position shown by Fig. 7.

The channels 27 form a guiding means to guide and support channels 26. Channels 26 form slidable supporting means or arms forslidinglin channels 27 and supporting top 20 in extended position, while channels 25 with earns 34 and 49, brackets 57 and pins 54 form the elements that cooperate to elevate top 20 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5 with the cooperation of stops 43, 44 and 45.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the desk or table is provided with additional top or working space at a common level simply by manipulating the extension top in the manner described. This kind of structure is particularly useful where there is limited space for furniture or where it is desirable to utilize different sizes of desks.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a top, a support spaced from the top and arranged parallel thereto, a plurality of housings carried upon the support, a pair of relatively movable channel members disposed in each housing, means in the housing and in one of the channels to limit relative movement thereof, said channel members being relatively slidable, means for limiting relative sliding movement of the channel members, an extension leaf carried by the support, cooperating cam members mounted upon one of the channel members and upon the ex tension leaf and operable to elevate the extension leaf when it is drawn outwardly whereby the top and extension leaf provide continuous surfaces.

2. An article of furniture comprising a top and support spaced from the top and arranged parallel thereto, a plurality of housings secured upon the support, a pair of relatively slidable channel members disposed in each housing, one of the channel members being slidable in each housing as a guide, means in each housing for limiting sliding movement of the channel members with respect thereto, means for limiting relative sliding movement of the two channel members, an extension leaf carried by the support, cam members extending upwardly from one of the channel members, the other channel member having means for receiving the cam member therethrough, said cam serving to elevate the extension leaf when it is drawn outwardly whereby the extension leaf and top provide a substantially level surface.

3. An article of furniture comprising a top, a support spaced from the top to provide a recess beneath the top, an extension leaf mounted in said recess, a pair of housings rigidly mounted upon the support, a channel member having slots therein slidably mounted in the housing, a second channel member having a slot therein mounted in the first channel member, means in the housing operable in the slot and in the second channel member for limiting sliding movement thereof with respect to the housing, cooperating cam members on the extension leaf and on the second channel member, said cam members extending through the slots in the first mentioned channel member, and means for limiting relative sliding movement of the channel members.

4. A top construction for desks, comprising a desk having a stationary top thereonwith the edges of the top at the front, back and one side substantially coincident with the sides of the desk, a supporting plate below said top in parallel relation providing a compartment under said top open at the front, an extension leaf in said compartment, arms slidably secured to said support, carrying said leaf and movable therewith to an extended position in front of the front wall of said desk, and relatively movable means carried by said arms having parts 00- operating with parts on said leaf and parts on said support and operable in manual movement of said leaf when extended beyond said top for elevating said leaf on said arms into coplanar relation with said top, whereby said leaf and top provide a substantially continuous top surface on said desk.

5. A top construction for desks, comprising a desk having a top, an extension leaf, arms slidably mounted on said desk under said top and supporting said leaf for movement from a position under said top to a position beyond the front of said top, and means on the arms movable relative to said arms and leaf, having parts cooperating with parts on said leaf and parts on desk for relatively moving said means on said arms in outward movement of said leaf when extended beyond said top to elevate said leaf on said arms into the plane of said top, whereby said leaf and top are in a contiguous coplanar relation.

6. A top construction for desks, comprising a desk a top, an extension leaf, arms slidably mounted on said desk under said top and supporting said leaf for movement from a position under said top to a position beyond the front of said top, each of said arms including a pair of relatively movable slide members, one of said .iibers forming the part of said arm slidably mounted on said desk, the other slide member having elevating means thereon coacting with parts on leaf for elevating leaf into the plane of said top by moving the first-mentioned slide member relative to the other slide member, whereby said top and leaf are in coplanar top forming relation.

7. A top construction for desks, comprising a desk having a top, an extension leaf, arms supporting said leaf, each arm having a pair of relatively movable slide members, one slide memher of each arm having a slidable mounting on said desk and supporting said leaf for movement from a position under said top to a position beyond the front edge thereof, the other slide member having parts cooperating with parts on the leaf for elevating said leaf into coplanar relation with said top in the relative movement of the first mentioned slide members and leaf to the other slide members, and a handle member connecting the other slide members.

8. An article of furniture comprising a top, a support spaced from and arranged parallel thereto, an extension leaf movably mounted between the support and top, guiding means secured to the support, relatively movable channel members slidably disposed in each of the guide means movable with and supporting the extension leaf during movement and in extended position outwardly beyond said top and support, coopcrating cam members on the extension leaf and on one of the relatively movable channels for elevating the extension leaf when it is drawn outwardly and moved relative to said channels, means for independently limiting outward movement of the extension leaf and said channels, said cam members being operable to support the extension leaf in contiguous relation with the top whereby the top and extension leaf provide a substantially continuous surface.

9. An article of furniture comprising a top,

a support for said top spaced below the top, an extension top, guiding means secured to said support, supporting arms slidably telescoping in said guiding means, said arms mounting said extension top and movable with said extension it top into an extended position overhanging one side of said support, cooperating parts carried by said extension top and said arms movable relative to said arms to elevate said extension top into co-planar relation with said first-mentioned top, and means limiting outward movement of said extension top and arms and engaging one of said cooperating parts whereby manual cutward movement of said extension top moves said supporting arms therewith and operates said cooperating parts relative to each other for elevating said extension top by cooperation of said cooperating parts and limiting means.

BENJAMIN G. RAND.

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